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Game Instructions & Description
How to Play Hearts
Play Hearts online for free against three computer players named West, North and East. Hearts is the classic four-player trick-taking card game, and this version was made by the CrazyArcade team to run right in your browser with no download. Each player gets 13 cards. Before most hands you choose 3 cards to pass: to the left on the first hand, then to the right, then across, and on every fourth hand nobody passes. The player holding the 2 of clubs leads the first trick, and everyone must follow suit if they can. Hearts and the Queen of spades cannot be played on the first trick unless a player has nothing else, and hearts cannot be led until one has been played, unless the leader holds only hearts. Each heart you take costs 1 point and the Queen of spades costs 13. If one player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen, they shoot the moon and every other player gets 26 points instead. The game ends when someone reaches 100 points, or 50 in the short game, and the lowest score wins. If the lowest score is tied, play continues for another hand. Choose Easy, Medium or Hard opponents. Easy players pick mostly random legal cards, Medium players use sound tactics such as ducking under tricks and passing dangerous cards, and Hard players also track every card played, note which players are out of a suit and try to stop or attempt moon shots. Cards you can play are highlighted, illegal cards are dimmed, and a short message explains why a card is not allowed. A Hint button suggests a card, the score sheet shows every hand, and you can set the animation speed. Your games played, wins, best winning score and moon shots are saved in your browser.
Controls & Interaction
Click or tap a card in your hand to play it. Cards you can play are outlined and illegal cards are dimmed. When passing, click 3 cards to select them and press the Pass button or P. On a keyboard, use the Left and Right arrow keys (or A and D) to move between cards and Enter or Space to play or select the highlighted card. Press H for a hint, S for the score sheet, and N or Escape to open the menu.
Pro Tips to Win
- Pass the Queen of spades, and the Ace and King of spades, unless you hold five or more spades to protect them.
- Use your pass to empty a short suit such as clubs or diamonds, so you can discard hearts or the Queen when that suit is led.
- Watch the points each player has taken this hand: if one opponent has every point so far late in the hand, take a heart yourself to stop the moon shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens when someone shoots the moon?
A: If one player takes all 13 hearts and the Queen of spades in a hand, that player scores 0 for the hand and each of the other three players scores 26 points.
Q: When does the game end?
A: The game ends after the hand in which any player reaches 100 points, or 50 points if you chose the short game. The player with the lowest total wins. If the lowest total is tied, another hand is played.
Q: How do the difficulty levels differ?
A: Easy opponents play mostly random legal cards but avoid winning points they could easily duck. Medium opponents duck under tricks, dump high cards and the Queen safely and pass to empty short suits. Hard opponents also count the cards played, remember which players are out of a suit, and try to block or attempt moon shots.
